Shoe tongue



Aug. 6, 1940. K E POST 2.210.430

SHOE TONGUE Filed March 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN EYS K. E. POST SHOE TONGUE Aug. 6, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1940 A'ITORN EYS Patented Aug. 6, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SHOE TONGUE Kenneth E. Post, Marlboro, Mass, assignor to A. G. Spalding & Bros. Inc.,. Chicopee,- Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application March 15,

7 Claims.

.This invention relates to improvements in shoe tongues, particularly shoe tongues which are shaped to conform with the foot and legof a wearer.

In an effort to provide a satisfactory .shoe tongue adapted to conform or substantially conform with that part of the foot or leg underlying the same a number of proposals have been made. some of which have been adopted and used cornmercially to a considerable extent. In general, however, the main body portions of the tongues embodying these prior proposals have included an assembly of two or more sections of material, initially completely separated, which are stitched together in such a way that the completed main body of the tongue has the desired shape ifor conforming with the foot and/or leg of the wearer.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shoe tongue which like the prior proposals discussed above, is comprised of a plurality of sec tions, but which may be assembled in a much more simple and effective manner than. shoe tongues embodying these prior proposals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe tongue which when completed will be of particularly sturdy construction and which may be made in very simple and advantageous manner;

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe tongue which will be very comfortable to a wearer of a shoe including the same and which may be economically produced.

In the attainment of the foregoing objects there is provided as a feature of the present invention ashoe tongue in which themain body thereof is formed from a single piece of material by slotting the latter to provide side sections integrally connected at one end of the slot and provided with 40 opposed and facing marginal edges having such a contour longitudinally thereof as to cause the tongue to assume a predetermined foot and/or leg conforming shape when'the edges are stitched together in abutting relation.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing a shot tongue in which a cover or reinforcing strip overlapping the connected marginal edges of shaped main sections, and the main sections, are all formed integral with each other from the same one piece of material.

Another feature of the invention residesin the provision of a simple method of forming a shaped shoe tongue from a single piece of material by slotting the material to form a pair of main sections having laterally spaced facing marginal 1940., Serial No. 324,041 (o1. 36-54) edges with an intermediate strip therebetween integrally connected at one end to the main sections, and then securing the marginal edges in fixed lateral relation relative to each other with the intermediate strip secured to the main sections to 1 overlap the securedmarginal edges.

Other objects and features will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view illustrating a single piece of material from which a shoe tongue embodying the present invention may be formed, the outside edges of the piece being of finalcontour and the central portion of the piece being slotted to divide the latter into side sections and an intermediate section. 1

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a second stage in the forming of the shoe tongue, with the intermediate section moved to one side to enable a clearer illustration of the stitching connecting the side sections. a

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the tongue in that stage of formation shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2,, but showing the intermediate section stitched down on the side sections.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in sec-- tion, showing the completed tongue in associa- 31 tion with a shoe.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shownin Fig. 6 the forward end of a shoe II with which there has been associated a tongue I2 embodying the present invention. For the purpose of illustration only, the shoe shown is of a type worn by players in thegame of hockey and includes a tip or toe piece 13 which is reinforced by a substantially rigid member I4 and lined with a cushioning strip [5 of felt or the like in a usual manner. However, it is to the construction of and the method of forming the tongue 12, which may have a lining it: of felt secured thereto as by stitching IT and which may be secured to the toe piece '13 as by stitching 18 in a usual and well known manner, that the present invention is particularly directed.

As has been proposed heretofore the tongue |2 comprises main side sections l9 and 20 having opposed and facing marginal edges 2| and 22 which may be secured together in abutting relation by a line of stitching 23. Preferably this stitching 23 is of zigzag form to insure an even and abutting relationship of the marginal edges 2| and 22. Also the tongue l2 includes a cover and reinforcing strip 24 adapted to extend longitudinally of the central portion of the tongue and overlap the stitched together marginal edges 2| and 22 of the side sections l9 and 20.

In the construction of tongues of the same general nature as the tongue |2, however, it has been customary to first form the side sections of the tongue as two completely disassociated and ununited pieces. Then, after the marginal edges of the sections that are to be stitched together have been shaped longitudinally in the manner to determine the ultimate foot and/or leg conforming shape or curvature of the completed tongue, they are stitched together in abutting relation. Subsequently the cover strip, which is formed completely separate from the side sections, is secured to the side sections in such a way as to overlie the abutting and stitched together marginal edges.

Tongues of the above nature and constructed in the above manner have been widely used commercially. However, because of the manner in which they are constructed certain special manufacturing problems are involved. Thus there is the problem of very carefully locating the separate cover strips longitudinally of the facing marginal edges of the side sections after the latter have been stitched together. There is the problem of carefully aligning the facing marginal edges of the separate sections prior to their being connected together. Moreover, it is necessary to maintain the separate side sections and cover strips which are to be assembled in very carefully selected and marked groups, not only to insure a desired color match between the sections and strip to be assembled in a particular tongue, but also to insure that a mistake is not made in stitching together one side section designed for one shape or size of tongue with a side section designed for another shape or size of tongue. These latter problems are especially acute when as is usual in the commercial production of tongues, hundreds and even thousands of tongue sections and strips may be kept on hand.

It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that the side sections l9 and 20 and the cover strip 24 constituting the tongue |2 embodying the present invention, are all formed from the same one piece 25 of material and are initially integrally connected so that there are substantially eliminated the special problems outlined above in connection with prior proposed tongues of the same general nature.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, in the formation of'the tongue l2, the single piece 25 of material, which may be of leather or the like, is blanked or cut out in such a way that the outer edges 26 thereof conform to their general contour in the completed tongue. Subsequently, or concurrently with the shaping of the outer edges, the piece of material is slotted or otherwise cut longitudinally in the central portion thereof in such a way as to define the facing marginal edges 2| and 22 of the side sections l9 and 20 with the intermediate or cover strip 24 therebetween and integrally connected at one end 21 to a connecting section 28 at the termini of the defined marginal edges 2| and 22. In this manner, while as shown the single piece 25 of material may be slotted completely through one end 29 thereof, it is not slotted completely through the other end 30 thereof, and hence the intermediate strip 24 and side sections l9 and 20 are all integrally connected together through the connecting section 28.

As shown, the facing marginal edges 2| and 22 of the side sections formed by the slotting operation, preferably define concave curves 'so that when they are stitched together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, the side sections will assume a foot and/or leg conforming substantially concave curve longitudinally thereof.

After the side sections 9 and 20 have been stitched together in abutting relation in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the intermediate or cover strip 24 is secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by lines of stitching 3| and 32, to over-. lapthe abutting marginal edges 2| and 22. This cover strip 24 serves not only to protect the stitching 23 but also to reinforce the entire tongue and assist in maintaining the latter in its desired and predetermined shape, and because of its ini tially integral association with the side sections its final positioning relative to the abutting edges 2| and 22 is a relatively simple matter. Thus, the integral association of one end 21 of the cover strip with the termini of the marginal edges at an end thereof, serves to definitely and automatically locate the cover strip longitudinally of the tongue. With the cover strip thus located longitudinally of the tongue, it is a simple matter to adjust the same laterally of the tongue and of the stitched edges 2| and 22 by merely aligning the initially free end 33 thereof with the corresponding free ends 34 and 35 of the abuttin edges. I

The application of the felt lining I6, which may be made up of two stitched together sections similar in contour to the sections l9 and 2D, to the tongue I2, as by the stitching I1, and the securing of the tongue to the toe piece l3 of the shoe, may then be accomplished as hereinbefore described in any now well known and usual manner.

It is thus seen that there is provided by the present invention a tongue which not only conforms with the foot and/or leg of the wearer both longitudinally and laterally, but which be-' cause of its initially integral construction is very sturdy. Also, it is seen that there is provided by the present invention a method of making a shaped and reinforced tongue in which the assembly may be effected in a very simple and controlled manner.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A shoe tongue, including main sections hav ing inner marginal edges; a connecting section at one end of and formed integrally with said main sections from one piece of material; means connecting said inner marginal edges longitudinally thereof; a cover strip formed integrally with said connecting sectionfrom the same one piece of material and disposed to overlap said connected marginal edges; and means for securing said cover strip to said main sections in said overlapping relation.

2. A shoe tongue, including main sections hav-' connected together to provide a main body portion of predetermined shape; and a cover strip overlapping and secured relative to said con nected marginal edges, said main sections and said cover strip all being formed integral with each other from the same one piece of material.

4. A shoe tongue, including main side sections formed integral with each other from the same one piece of material, having opposed inner marginal edge portions each initially shaped to define a concave curve; a cover strip formed from saidsame one piece of material intermediate said opposed inner marginal edge portions and at one end being integrally connected to said main side sections; and means for connecting said marginal edge portions and for securing said cover strip to said main side sections in overlapping relation with respect to said marginal edge portions.

, 5. A shoe tongue, including main side sections formed integral with each other from the same one piece of material, having opposed inner marginal edge portions shaped in a manner to determine the shape of the completed tongue; a cover strip formed from said same one piece of material intermediate said marginal edge portions and at one end being integrally connected to said main side sections; stitching means for connecting said opposed marginal edge portions in substantially abutting relation; and means for securing said cover strip to said main sections in overlapping relation with respect to said connected marginal edge portions.

6. A shoe tongue, including main. side sections formed from one piece of material, having opposed and facing marginal edges shaped longitudinally in a manner to determine the shape of the completed tongue; 2. connecting section at one end of and formed integrally with said main side sections from the same one piece of material; and means for connecting said marginal edges longitudinally thereof.

7. A shoe tongue, including side sections having facing marginal edges; a cover strip formed from the same one piece of material as said side sections, having one end integrally connected to each of said side sections at one longitudinal terminus of said marginal edges; andmeans for connecting said'facing marginal edges and for securing said cover strip to said sections in longitudinal and overlapping relation with respect to said marginal edges.

' KENNETH E. POST. 

